AUSTIN | ABIA Updates

[Austin1971]

[qu

[DoubleC]

Originally Posted by Austin1971

Pushed back to the 17th.

Frontier has begun using a hardstand and deplaning on the far east end of the terminal apron. Using Cobus to transport passengers via gate 1.

Construction updates....

http://www.austintexas.gov/news/more...ear-completion

I actually don't mind de-planing via a hardstand; I can have a closer look at the plane than I can from the terminal or.. Inside the plane. Lots of busy European airports will have folks deplane this way, like Frankfurt.

Should justify an expansion or the opening of a low-cost terminal.

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by DoubleC

I actually don't mind de-planing via a hardstand; I can have a closer look at the plane than I can from the terminal or.. Inside the plane. Lots of busy European airports will have folks deplane this way, like Frankfurt.

Should justify an expansion or the opening of a low-cost terminal.

Being a plane geek, I agree, its pretty cool looking back on the whole plane that got you there, but only if the weather cooperates. I have deplained at Stewart in Newburg, NY on a hardstand during a rain shower in 40 degree weather and it was not pleasant.

[Austin1971]

[q

[DoubleC]

I found this pic on the Denver Airport's Facebook page. Thousands of people each year fly into Narita from Denver (and from other connecting cities) just to travel to other Asian cities. It ain't Austin, but I'm sure such a route from Austin to an Asian hub would bring more travelers aboard than just those whose destination is the hub.

Also this pic.

[hookem]

Originally Posted by DoubleC

I found this pic on the Denver Airport's Facebook page. Thousands of people each year fly into Narita from Denver (and from other connecting cities) just to travel to other Asian cities. It ain't Austin, but I'm sure such a route from Austin to an Asian hub would bring more travelers aboard than just those whose destination is the hub.

Well, the second image seems to show Austin is quite a popular final destination from Tokyo through Denver. That surprises me, I would figure the bulk would travel NRT-IAH-AUS or NRT-DFW-AUS.

[GoldenBoot]

The image suggests that about 3 people per day utilize the DEN-NRT route from AUS. That's not going to turn too many heads. Most people from this region utilize other routes to Asia (specifically Tokyo) than transferring in Denver. I would expect DFW, IAH, ORD and LAX are higher on the list than DEN.

I would assume this includes both inbound and outbound passengers.

[nixcity]

^As well as SFO. However, that is useful, thanks for sharing the images. Now that we are basically for sure that we will not get a direct flight to Seoul soon Tokyo becomes the best option. We are still close to a million people per metro less than Denver but with UT, the state capital being here, and our large tech industry, including a few based in Tokyo, we probably won't have to wait too long before it makes sense. I'm guessing 2-5 years assuming all continues well for our economies....

[hookem]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

The image suggests that about 3 people per day utilize the DEN-NRT route from AUS. That's not going to turn too many heads. Most people from this region utilize other routes to Asia (specifically Tokyo) than transferring in Denver. I would expect DFW, IAH, ORD and LAX are higher on the list than DEN.

Definitely. But it's still remarkable (to me) that among the final non-DEN destinations, Austin is pretty high up there.

[San Diego-Honolulu]

Originally Posted by nixcity

^As well as SFO. However, that is useful, thanks for sharing the images. Now that we are basically for sure that we will not get a direct flight to Seoul soon Tokyo becomes the best option. We are still close to a million people per metro less than Denver but with UT, the state capital being here, and our large tech industry, including a few based in Tokyo, we probably won't have to wait too long before it makes sense. I'm guessing 2-5 years assuming all continues well for our economies....

I agree with all those points you make. For me, someone that is not from Austin, I think maybe even 1-3 years until we see a nonstop flight from ABIA to Tokyo-Narita happening. I would guess that it would be flown on Japan Airlines using a 787. San Diego gets a British Airways 777 to London Heathrow (similar to Austin), and a Japan Airlines 787 to Tokyo Narita. I think Japan could have the same success that British Airways has been having in Austin. Both are close partners to American Airlines. American also has their lounge at ABIA that also gives access to British Airways and also Japan Airlines if they ever begin service to ABIA. I think having a lounge in Austin would be a major selling point for Japan Airlines and their elite flyers and business flyers.

[LoneStarMike]

Originally Posted by Austin1971

Frontier has begun using a hardstand and deplaning on the far east end of the terminal apron. Using Cobus to transport passengers via gate 1.

Originally Posted by Austin1971

Terminal expansion happening and ULCC terminal happening. Guess Frontier is taking advantage and saving money by using a hardstand a few months before moving to the South Terminal.

It looks like Frontier is only using a hardstand for one flight during the afternoon rush hour - an arrival from ATL which continues as a departure to DEN. All their other flights are still using Gate 3 according to ABIA's Flight Information Display System.

The ULCC terminal was Item 2 on today's City Council meeting. It's been postponed to June 18 and Mayor Adler said there was late backup.

[airwx]

They discussed the postponement in the work session on Tuesday. They said the agreement with Allegiant and Frontier is almost complete, but they are requesting postponement for a week because American and Delta wanted some more information about it. The transcript on the city's website didn't do a very good job covering that part, but you can see the brief discussion if you skip to the 1:00 mark in Item B here: http://austintx.swagit.com/play/06092015-538

[Austin1971]

J

[Austin1971]

[q

[ILUVSAT]

Originally Posted by Austin1971

Wonder if Delta or AA have bigger plans for that area of the airport?

Doubt it. They just want to know if they are getting shafted in costs and fees. I would assume there will be a difference in operational costs utilizing the south terminal vs. Barbara Jordan.

[airwx]

One other thing I heard during the budget meeting yesterday was some of the council members asking what it would cost to show all the board, commission, and taskforce meetings on ATXN. They seemed interested in increasing transparency. I would love to see that happen, as the AAAC is one of the few not shown.

[LoneStarMike]

Originally Posted by ILUVSAT

Doubt it. They just want to know if they are getting shafted in costs and fees. I would assume there will be a difference in operational costs utilizing the south terminal vs. Barbara Jordan.

There are.

There's a separate charge in the main terminal for jetways of $79,200 per year.

There's also joint use fees shared among the airlines. 20% of the costs are shared equally among all airlines, with the remaining 80% of the costs prorated based on passenger enplanement share. These include:

Baggage claim area - $356,350.57 per month
Passenger screening - $145,829.23 per month

Outbound Baggage Fees:

Conveyor belt - $149.49 per linear foot per month
Apron Carousel - $9.66 per sq ft per month.

The South Terminal doesn't have an automated baggage system, nor jetways, so that's a savings right there.

Given that Frontier and Allegiant already use common-use gates, that would indicate to me that they are non-signatory carriers, meaning they pay twice the landing fee rates as the signatory carriers.

Any airline using the South Terminal would be considered a non-signatory carrier. To be a signatory carrier, an airline has to enter into a lease agreement with the City. Frontier and Allegiant would be entering into a lease agreement with Highstar Capital.

You can see a list of ABIA's current charges here Just click on any of those FlyAustin newsletters. The one for Spring 2015 has the charges listed on page 3.

airwx - thanks for the link to that city council work session. I'd never even thought of looking at those.

[Austin1971]

[q

[LoneStarMike]

I can't speak for United, but Southwest already threw a big hissy fit back in 2008 prior to the South Terminal opening.

WN & AUS In Dispute Over Low-cost Terminal

Their argument was basically "You can't charge us one rental rate, then turn around and charge other airlines a lower rate."

I think one of the loopholes the city crawled through was that they (the City) weren't charging rental rates for ticket counter space, gates, and baggage facilities at the South Terminal. GECAS was.

Being that the South Terminal opened back in 2008, Southwest obviously lost their argument. My guess is that they'd lose a similar argument today, so why bother?

[Austin1971]

[q